KAIT-DT2
 | |
| Jonesboro, Arkansas United States | |
|---|---|
| Branding | NBC Region 8 |
| Channels | Digital: KAIT-DT 8.2 (VHF/PSIP) |
| Affiliations | NBC (2015–present)[1] |
| Owner |
Raycom Media (KAIT License Subsidiary, LLC) |
| First air date | 2008 |
| Call letters' meaning | see KAIT |
| Sister station(s) | KAIT, WMC-TV |
| Former channel number(s) |
Digital: 9.2 (VHF, 2003–2009) |
| Former affiliations | Independent/Local Weather (2008–2015) |
| Transmitter power | 28.2 kW |
| Height | 531 metres (1,742 ft) |
| Facility ID | 12988 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 35°52′22″N 90°56′7.5″W / 35.87278°N 90.935417°W |
| Website |
www |
KAIT-DT2 is the NBC affiliated television station in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The station is a second digital subchannel of ABC affiliate KAIT, which is owned by Raycom Media. KAIT-DT2’s parent station’s studios are located on Craighead County Road 766 in Jonesboro, and its transmitting facility is located in Egypt, Arkansas.
History
As a locally-oriented weather channel
KAIT-DT2 began broadcasting in 2008 as a 24-hour weather channel for the Jonesboro area. The subchannel provided a loop featuring current weather conditions, and some weather forecasts for the subchannel from KAIT’s weather forecasters. KAIT-DT2 also served as an alternate broadcast partner of Southeastern Conference football and men’s basketball games from parent company Raycom Media’s sports syndication division, Raycom Sports from 2008 until March 2009, and then ESPN Plus-operated SEC TV from 2009 until 2014, often sharing broadcast rights with the main channel.[2] The SEC TV package was cancelled in 2014 because of the inception of the cable-exclusive SEC Network, which launched on August 14 of that year.
As an NBC affiliate
On January 26, 2015, KAIT-DT2 became the Jonesboro area’s NBC affiliate. The NBC affiliation was initially announced on December 29, 2014.[3] Previously, KARK-TV in Little Rock, along with KAIT’s Memphis-area sister station WMC-TV, historically served as the default NBC affiliates for the Jonesboro area. In spite of the existence of KAIT-DT2, KARK remains on Suddenlink Cable systems in Jonesboro. New Moon Communications was intending to affiliate former TBN owned-and-operated station KJNE-LP with NBC in 2011,[4] but they never did so, and KAIT already signed an agreement with the network before New Moon could do anything with KJNE, so that station ended up being acquired by Meridian, Mississippi-based Waypoint Media in 2015.
Waypoint Media launched KJNB-LD in June 2015 with programming from Fox,[5] and KJNB’s second subchannel signed on the air to broadcast CBS programming two months later.[6] In addition, KJNE-LP returned to the air as a translator/satellite station to KJNB (simulcasting both of KJNB’s subchannels). With KJNB and KJNE providing Fox and CBS, and KAIT-DT2 getting the NBC affiliation, the Jonesboro media market now has access to all of the four major television networks. MyNetworkTV may come to the Jonesboro area through a DTV America Corporation-owned low-power station as that company owns three broadcasting licenses for new stations in the area. Specifically, either KPMF-LD or K30MF-D is currently the candidate for the MyNetworkTV affiliation in northeast Arkansas when it signs on,[7] and when and if it does, Jonesboro will be able to maintain a complete television market, with the exception of The CW. Jonesboro is served by cable-only CW affiliate “KJOS”, which is part of The CW Plus and is operated by KAIT and the local cable company. Because the local CW affiliate is a cable-only outlet, WLMT in Memphis remains the default over-the-air CW affiliate for the eastern half of the market, and KASN/Little Rock being the default over-the-air CW affiliate for the southwest part of the market. KAIT 24/7 Weather is now a cable-exclusive channel that is available on Suddenlink cable channel 247.[8] Until MyNetworkTV becomes available on any of DTV America’s Jonesboro market future stations, WLMT-DT2, along with WDKA of Paducah, Kentucky will remain the default MyNetworkTV affiliates for the area.
Current programming
General programming
Like its parent station KAIT which clears the entire ABC schedule, KAIT-DT2 clears NBC's entire programming schedule. Syndicated programming on KAIT-DT2 include, but not limited to Jeopardy!, Inside Edition, Dr. Phil, and RightThisMinute.[9]
Newscasts
WMC-TV’s newscasts are available on KAIT-DT2 as the subchannel simulcasts that station’s newscasts, but with localized insertions originating from KAIT.[10]
Availability
In addition to its over-the-air signal on virtual channel 8.2, KAIT-DT2 is also available on Suddenlink cable channel 5,[8] as well as Paragould Light Water and Cable channel 4.
References
- ↑ Digital TV Market Listing for KAIT RabbitEars.Info
- ↑ “SEC TV Affiliates - Matt’s College Sports on TV”. Matt’s College Sports on TV. January 24, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
- ↑ "KAIT Says It Will Launch An NBC Affiliate". Arkansas Business. December 29, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
- ↑ “Jonesboro to Gain NBC Affiliate”. Arkansas TV News Watch (July 1, 2011).
- ↑ "Jonesboro Gets New Fox TV Affiliate". Talk Business. June 7, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
- ↑ “CBS Makes Debut in Northeast Arkansas” (August 2015)
- ↑ “MyNetworkTV Affiliate List” MyNetworkTV.com Retrieved October 24, 2015. Editor’s note: Enter Jonesboro zip code 72401 in the search bar for confirmation.
- 1 2 Suddenlink Cable Channel Lineup for Jonesboro, Arkansas
- ↑ KAIT-TV Programming Info from TitanTV
- ↑ See KAIT.